Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Will Support Kinect, But 'Won't Affect Core Gameplay'

When Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary ships later this year, it will support Kinect.

Microsoft did not make any such announcements at E3, but a GameSpot interview with Microsoft Game Studios chief Phil Spencer revealed Microsoft's intentions to have Kinect hooks.

When I asked the company for specifics today, however, Microsoft was coy.

“It’s no surprise we’re exploring ways Kinect can enhance game experiences in authentic and meaningful ways," said the company. "The Kinect features we’re exploring with Halo: Anniversary are additive and will not affect the core gameplay experience or alter our mission of delivering a faithful recreation of the original game. That said we have nothing else to share just yet.”

Another statement released by 343 Industries community manager Jessica Shea on the Halo Waypoint message boards provided a little more clarity and an important phrase: optional.

"The Kinect features we're exploring with Halo: Anniversary are optional and won't affect your core gameplay experience," said Shea. "Our mission, from day one, has been to deliver a faithful recreation of the original game, and we remain dedicated to seeing that through to completion."

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is an HD remastering of the original Halo game developed by Bungie Studios. 343 Industries and Saber Interactive are collaborating on the update.

NEEDLER ON

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

Halo Journeys: Movement Devolved

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

They've already said $40.

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

Exactly what I was thinking. With Kinect support I'm thinking it will be 60 bones.

@blacklab: they've announced the price of $40, they wouldn't change it so late after already stating it.

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

It's not, but close to it (I think it's $50 in the US).

Don't see the problem with that though, it is a full remake after all, not just an HD port and comes with quite a few new multiplayer maps.

"Will Support Kinect, But 'Won't Affect Core Gameplay"

The box tag-line "Better with Kinect" makes me cringe every time.

Hmm... they wouldnt do something on rails like that harry potter thing would they?

Kinect needler slap.

@DarkbeatDK said:

The box tag-line "Better with Kinect" makes me cringe every time.

Especially because we all know from the E3 demos that NOTHING is better with Kinect.

Master Chief kill all

It doesn't bother me, since I don't have a Kinect and will therefore never have any interaction with those elements.

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

It's been priced at 39.99 already.

@President_Barackbar: what about life-changing moments of horror? I refer to KINECT ME of course.

fly mode on

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

It's not, but close to it (I think it's $50 in the US).

Don't see the problem with that though, it is a full remake after all, not just an HD port and comes with quite a few new multiplayer maps.

@MrMuscle said:

Wonder if this will be a full priced game.

we know its not already they said 40 i think it was but its defo not full price

Xbox! Pistol sniper rifle shoot!

@Smokay: They never said ODST wouldn't be full priced and it wasn't in most countries anyway (I paid £50 for it with the limited edition controller). Like has been said several times, they've already specifically said this won't be.

@FieryPayne said:

"Will Support Kinect, But 'Won't Affect Core Gameplay"

a.k.a. - needless kinect support

It's better than the alternative, though, right? If they shoehorned Kinect into Halo 1's 'core gameplay,' wouldn't that be a thousand times worse than just throwing something in as a nice bonus for Kinect owners?

lol only way to teabag is to do it for reals via Kinect HAHAHA RL Teabagging FINALLY!

Xbox bing master chief

I said this on Twitter and I'll say it here too, if the Kinect stuff isn't in my way, doesn't ruin performance or I don't notice any key features missing without it, then I don't care if it's in there. As long as I can play the game without it just fine I'm happy.

ENERGY SWORD ON

gotta love those that got duped by the Kinect.  Nothing good for it and just random toss outs of minor functionality in other games.
 
thought that thing was supposed to be cool? lol.

I see Microsoft shoehorning this Kinect stuff into everything and claiming it won't affect gameplay being as annoying to console gamers as it was when they told the PC gamers that it wouldn't affect them any when games are made for controllers instead of Keybaord and Mouse. Time will tell I guess.

@Norusdog said:

gotta love those that got duped by the Kinect. Nothing good for it and just random toss outs of minor functionality in other games. thought that thing was supposed to be cool? lol.

When has new hardware ever shone right in the beginning? Give it time and, maybe not the Kinect, but a future Motion hardware will take the reigns learning from past mistakes. I like my Kinect, especially for Dance Central and soon UFC Personal trainer.

Would be interesting to see what they come up with for Halo using the Kinect. I still want, and people can flame all they want, a Halo themed rail shooter like Time Crisis. I think it would be neat and wish that developers would make more games like them for consoles instead of dishing out rail shooter that use controllers or "your hands."

ENERGY SWORD ON!

Kinect is an albatross around my 360.  GO AWAY!

All I want is my pistol back :)

Kinect is becoming playstation move and playstation sixaxis...they put it in everything now just because they can apparently.

LIGHTSABER ACTIVIATE

I bought Halo originally, and again on download. Should i have to buy again for the 3rd time?

This and Skyrim are the two things I looking forward to most this year.

@michaelfossbakk said:

This and Skyrim are the two things I looking forward to most this year.

Hear that!

I bought Halo originally, and again on download. Should i have to buy again for the 3rd time?

I guess if only a side thing. Still I wish they stop pushing this down every games throat.

Every Microsoft first party title, no matter the type of title, will have Kinect support from here on out, with the sole exception of Gears 3 at the moment.

@Renegade1973 said:

I bought Halo originally, and again on download. Should i have to buy again for the 3rd time?

Depends on your definition of "have to."  No one is forcing you to rebuy these games X number of times. But as Nintendo has learned from repackaging all of their yesteryear successes, people will keep buying the same shit over and over.

Obviously, it's great that they're not putting Kinect in as something crucial, but it's extremely off-putting that Microsoft continually is throwing it into games that don't need it.  At all. 
 
Again, since it's "additive", it's not too big of a deal, but it just doesn't feel right.  It's like ordering a delicious grilled cheese and it coming with a side of dog poop.  It's not touching the grilled cheese, and you really don't have to do anything with it if you don't want, but its horrible presence persists regardless.

Xbox! Headshot!

Kinect, making online shooters more accessible for the "casual" audience since 2011.

So being able to play the game with an optional skin upgrade is cool, but having optional Kinect support is not.

Way to go 'core' fanbase!

gotta love those that got duped by the Kinect.  Nothing good for it and just random toss outs of minor functionality in other games.  thought that thing was supposed to be cool? lol.

I said this on Twitter and I'll say it here too, if the Kinect stuff isn't in my way, doesn't ruin performance or I don't notice any key features missing without it, then I don't care if it's in there. As long as I can play the game without it just fine I'm happy.

XBOX: SHOOT THE BAD GUYS!

If you don't like Kinect stop complaining about it. Just don't use it! I personally find it fun to use.